Toothed-segment lock for fire-arms



Patented May 14, 1850.

N A. m M L ..m A n I C M W I H M D UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEXTER H. CHAMBERLAIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOOTHED-SEGMENT LOCK FOR FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 7,360, dated May 14,1850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DEXTER H. CHAMBER- LAIN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Locks for Fire- Arms, which invention is particularlyapplicable to what is termed Oolts Repeating Pistol, and I do herebydeclare that the same is fully described and represented in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings, letters, figures, andreferences thereof. Of the said drawings, Figure 1 denotes alongitudinal central and vertical section of my improved lock. Fig. 2 isa side view of the ring-trigger, its movable gear, segment, andlever-pawl as they appear when detached from the rest of the lock. Fig.3 is a rear edge view of the said trigger, gear, segi'nent, and pawl.Fig. at is a side view of the hammer as detached from the other parts ofthe lock.

In the said drawings, A represents the percussion-hammer, the lower partof which, and below the turning-pin B, is formed with a seg ment ofteeth, as seen at O, and also with a shoulder, E, for the upper end ofthe mainspring D to rest and act against.

' F denotes the trigger, which is \vhatis usually termed a ring-trigger.It is made so as to receive within it a gear or segment, G, which turnsfreely on the fulcrumpin H, and has its teeth placed in engagement withthose of the hammer or cook A. A small lever-pawl, I, is placed withinthe said trigger and made to turn freely 011 a pin, a, passed through itand the trigger. Its upper end is pressed into engagement with the teethof the segment G by means of a small spring, I), applied to the frontedge of its lower arm, and made to bear against the trigger. The saidlever-pawl is formed with a projection, c, which, while the trigger isretracted, is brought against the front of the part d of the stock L.The above constitutes the whole of my invention.

The mode of operation of it is as follows: By grasping the stock L inthe hand and passing the forefinger through the ring 6 of the triggerand pulling the ring backward, we cause a retractive movement of thehammer, and this in consequence of the peculiar action of the lever-pawlI, the segment H, and the are C of teeth. WVhen, however, the part c ofthe lever-pawl is drawn against the part (I of the stock with sufficientforce, the leverpawl will be turned upon its fulcrum or pin a, and so asto carry its upper arm out of action or engagement with the teeth of thesegment G, and thereby set free the said segment, so as to permit thecook or hammer to be thrown toward the nipple by the retractive power ofthe mainspring, the segment G being turned with and by the toothedsector 0 during the fall of the hammer. On pressingforward the triggerby the finger the upper arm of the pawl will slip or slide over theteeth of the segment G, which in the meantime will be held firmly inposition by the hammer and the force of the mainspring.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is The movable toothed segment G andescapement or spring pawl I, or any mechanical equivalent therefor, (thesaid segment and escapement being arranged within the trigger,) and thetoothed segment or are C, (of the hammer,) in combination together andwith the trigger, hammer, and stock, and made to operate substantiallyin manner as hereinbefore specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature this 26th day ofMarch, A. D. 1850.

D. H. CHAMBERLAIN. \Vitnesse's:

R. H. EDDY, FRANCIS GOULD.

